January 30, 2018

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Opening the Door on Research: Dynamic Glass & The Workplace

At View, we frequently contribute to studies that reinforce the truism that access to outdoor views and daylight play a pivotal role in supporting occupant well-being. These studies from highly credible sources such as the University of Washington and U.S. Department of Defense have shown how View Dynamic Glass makes good on sustainability goals while improving the occupant experience.

Today, we’re taking those studies one step further with the launch of an ambitious human factors research initiative to help us better quantify the productivity, health and wellness benefits of dynamic glass. To ensure the most credible and accurate results, we’re partnering with some of the brightest minds in the fields of human factors and workplace ergonomics research.

This first study represents the largest third-party study to date on smart glass and productivity and validates the effectiveness of dynamic glass in the workplace. We turned to Cornell University Professor and renowned workplace design expert Dr. Alan Hedge to contrast the experiences of workers in offices with traditional windows to workers in offices with dynamic glass. What his research found has major implications for companies.

Key findings of the study include:

• Controlled daylight unlocks significant health and wellness benefits for office workers. Workers in office environments with optimized natural light reported a 51 percent drop in the incidence of eyestrain and a 63 percent drop in the incidence of headaches, both of which can detract from productivity.• More natural light translates to more alert employees. Workers in offices with smart glass reported a 56 percent decrease in drowsiness.• Enhanced individual performance is tied to access to natural light. Workers sitting close to smart windows with optimized daylight exposure reported a 2 percent increase in productivity - the equivalent of an additional $100,000/year of value for every 100 workers or around $2 million over the window’s lifetime.• The optimal amount of natural light creates a better indoor experience. Workers in offices with smart glass reported an 82 percent improvement in daylight quality.

By providing uninterrupted views, rejecting glare and heat and optimizing natural light, dynamic glass is proven to contribute to a healthier, more energetic workforce.

As you can imagine, we’re thrilled with these findings and believe they are a major validation of the value dynamic glass provides in the workplace. There is a lot more to unpack from this study, so be sure to read the full report and stay tuned for more research coming soon.